At the sailmaker

The northeast trade wind has produced a two-meter-high wave that flows unimpeded toward the mainland of Panama. We can see the force of these waves on the two rocks Mogote de Afuera and Mogote Andetro, which stand at the entrance to the channel towards Linton Bay. The channel is formed by the mainland and the two islands Isla Grande and Isla Linton. It is not until about 20 meters above the water line that vegetation begins to grow on the vegetated rocks. Below, the Caribbean Sea bounces mercilessly against. With a deep bass tone, the wave sucks on the rocks from below and explodes on the black rock to millions of small white water drops, which shoot up and reach the green vegetation loosely. Due to a shoal to starboard, the two rocks to port pass closer to us than we would like. But we sit at the natural spectacle in the first row. A privilege we would have liked to do without. Behind Isla Grande the sea, which has accompanied us since this morning when we left the Lemmon Cays, finally becomes calmer. To the left and right, beautiful villas and hotels flash out of the wooded slopes. Some of the properties on which they stand reach gigantic sizes. After about 2.5 miles we reach the Linton Bay Marina and anchor in front of it. The anchor beer tastes especially good today, after 45 nautical miles, and we enjoy the evening on board with a fantastic view of our surroundings.

Canal entrance Linton Bay

For 15US$ a week, we anchor passengers are allowed to use the dinghy dock in the marina. We look around for the sailmaker who is supposed to have a workshop here. Since our sense of time works only sporadically in the meantime, actually no longer to be used, we stand before closed doors and find out that once again Sunday is. We get on the nerves of Flip Flop, who arrived here with us and secured a place in the marina, because they want to spend the holidays in Germany. But we don't last long because the cleaning is more annoying than we are the Flip Flop, and that was planned the other way around. In the anchorage we meet the Worlddancer II, a couple from Hamburg who has been sailing in Panama for a long time and can give us valuable tips.

Katinka steering position

In the evening we celebrate farewell with the Flip Flop and the Manatee. Gaby gets sentimental, as always on such occasions, and has to hold back the tears a bit. We will celebrate Christmas and New Year in Panama this year. We have already put up our Christmas tree, so we also have a little pre-Christmas spirit. With 28°C air temperature we do without the mulled wine and the Jagertee, which probably everyone can understand. For it there is now and then a Cuba Libre with genuine Caribbean rum.

Panama jungle

On Monday we are punctually at the sailmaker's place. Rainer is German and has been living here in Panama for 12 years. Since in the marina otherwise only Spanish is spoken, in some places English and only rarely German, it facilitates the matter of course immensely. The UV protection on the genoa has come off and is now to be reapplied. At least I was of the opinion, it is the UV protection. The next day I get a call from his charming employee, also German and presumably allied. Apart from the fact that I hate such calls like the plague, it did not really surprise me, because something is always. So I swing myself into the dinghy and 10 minutes later I'm standing in front of the two, who look at me with a pitying smile. Rainer started: "There is no UV protection on it at all, you have a baked sail and the one layer is peeling off". Oh God I think, that will be expensive, "OK" I say, "and what does that mean now?" "We can glue and sew a new sail on it now. It will last until New Zealand and then you can buy a new sail." Somewhat relieved that it could be repaired after all, I said, "that's what we'll do." I was still surprised because I had contacted the sailmaker in Germany who made the sail and sent him pictures. Based on the data, he identified the sail and told me that the UV protection had come off. Obviously he did not identify it correctly and the photos were not clear enough. In this respect, it seems important to clarify such things on site. Anyway, we now have a solution that brings us at least times to New Zealand. 

Anchoring Linton Bay

In the meantime I will deal intensively with the topic of sailing. You never stop learning. And since the soccer world cup is still in full swing, we will not be bored. We can be seen regularly in the Marina Restaurant, where large screens are set up. An international audience is present for every game and we are right in the middle of it. For Sunday the Lady Blue has announced herself, which we have met again and again at different places, in the Caribbean. Besides, there is still a lot to explore in Panama, which we will tell you about next week. Until then, always fair winds and keep a stiff upper lip.